The Fabulous Five

We started the semester with just 5 students. Thank God that it was these five. These students have been such a blessing to us, both in the ministry and in their friendships. It would be difficult to fathom San Diego without these gems.

God has blessed the ministry at SDSU above and beyond our expectations. Yes, we started the year with only a handful of students, but God grew that little group 4 times over. It was so awesome to each of these students grow in Christ, and continue growing in their friendships with others and one another. It was a privilege working with these students. Lord's willing these students will stay in the San Diego area for another year, which is exciting for us personally, because that means our friendships with them have the possibility of growing even more.

Our theme verse for our ministry is Luke 10:2 He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. These students have exemplified what it means to be laborers for Christ.

With the semester at SDSU now at a close. I just wanted to take a minute to show these students off.

Thanks guys for all your perseverance. Your friendships and laborers in the Lord mean more to us then you'll ever know.

Community

By Val,

"This isn't real. It'll be hard going back, because here you have people who understand you...who get it and understand what you do." -Kristine Maschhoff

Ryan and I recently got back from our last training (called a summit) as EDGEr's. EDGE is a 1-2 yr commitment to ministering on a college campus with the Navigators. Our EDGE class recently ended it's 2yr commitment with over 70 members (shown at top). I've had mixed feelings about this class because I entered into it a year late. However, out of everyone I talked to regarding how this summit feels, I resonated with Kristine's comment the most. True, unfortunately I did not get time with everyone in my class. However, there was such a sense of camaraderie, acceptance, and partnership. All these people, in some form or another, have experienced the same things concerning college ministry as Ryan and I. Like Ryan and I, they've all experienced the fear of funding, the excitement of starting the semester, the disappointments of students flaking out on you, the hardships of creating community and the heartbreaks that come when you commit to living life alongside these students.

These 70 people created a safe place for me last week. I felt like I had community, friends, a place to belong. But...in many ways it wasn't real. Ryan and I go back to SDSU in a couple months, still struggling to fit in our church, fightning to find community, and inching our way towards true friendships. However, this summit gave me hope. Hope that SDSU can feel that same sense of community through the unitied purpose of advancing the gospel. That we will really be a ministry that picks each other up after falls. That everyone in the minstry will feel a sense of belonging. I pray that for our students....But I guess even more I pray that for Ryan and I. For how can we create community for our students if we ourselves aren't investing in our own community?

Off We Go...!

By Val
"Off we go, into the wild blue yonder flying high into the sun"....um. or something like that.

Ryan and I had our 3hr hour, gruesome, no bars held interview on Tuesday. It was to evaluate whether we could continue on in staff with the Navigators. The interviewers dig through all your past and find all your juicy secrets which you then have to flesh out with them. Okay... Maybe it's not that bad. BUT you do have to go through different aspects of your past and discuss what you've learned, how you've healed and if further action is required in order to help us to become spiritually and emotionally healthy missionaries.

God was soooooooooo gracious. We talked through some pretty difficult stuff and they asked some tough questions but through it all we felt our interviewers were so loving and full of grace. Coming out of it Ryan and I felt so blessed to be a part of an organization that cares so much of the well being of their staff.

So the short end of it is they gave us the green flag. Staff in Training here we come! Staff in Training is the next step in our training to be full fledged Navigator Staff. It is generally a 2-3 year commitment and is more focused on training. Our desire, if God allows, is to one day open a Navigator program at an untouched campus and this is one step closer to that dream.

Our trip to AZ

by Val,

Well, we're back in cool, strangely cloudy San Diego. We've been back for almost a week but we were so tired from "break" that I think today is the first day I actually don't feel like huddling in the corner and pulling a blanket over my head when I think of doing any kind of work.

Arizona was refreshing but also very tiring.


Family
It was so wonderful to stay with my parents. They are one of the most generous people I know. I can seriously say they would give you "the shirt off their back." It was also really good to hang out with my brothers at night just shooting the breeze. I forgot how much I miss that kind of community. My brothers are my closest friends hands down, outside of Ryan. I just love being with them. God is doing amazing things in their lives and it's way cool to see.

Also, we got some time with Ryan's folks and saw Robbie's AMAZING french horn recital. It's always so good to see Ryan in his "element." It brings me so much happiness to see him around his family. He knows he can just let loose and be "Ryan" when he's around them. His parents are amazing and so supportive. They did such a wonderful job raising him to love and fear God. They have such a deep love for all their children. I feel so blessed to be included in their family.

Friends
We were able to spend a good chunk of time with our close friend Matt. He's one of those special friends of Ryan's, that I actually feel almost as close to as Ryan does. For those of you married or in a relationship you know that I mean. It's a very special gift to have a close friend who is a genuine friend of both parties. It's also really comforting because you know you don't have to make small talk with this person. With matt I know the three of us can just hang, watch some shows, play some crazy games or talk about whatever is on our minds. Now that was a special treat. In so many ways he truly is like a brother to us.

We also hung out with the ASU Nav staff which is always good. We both feel so close to every member of that staff team. Their friendships are invalueable. It's also good to remember that we're not alone in this. Listening to the ASU staff I was reminded that our struggles are not new. Other people are going through the exact same things as Ryan and I. We are not alone. That was good to remember.

It was also really cool to catch up with some people I haven't seen since high school. That's was really sweet.

Ryan and I were also able to get some time with different students over at ASU. When I meet with girls I know that there is a purpose around it. That purpose is to help them love Jesus more. However, I always hope and pray that those relationships I have with girls will someday blossom into something more. Into a true friendship. When it does, it is such an amazing gift. I feel that God has done that with me over in AZ and I pray that he does the same in SD. Regardless, anytime I've ever invested in a girl in any capacity, God lays it on my heart to pray earnestly for them for the rest of their lives. So it's such a joy to hear from them how those prayers are being answered and to hear what God's been doing in their lives.

Meetings
God gave us TEN meetings with people, to share are hearts with, regarding the work we are doing in San Diego. It was so great for me to hear what God's been in their lives. It was also an amazing encouragement for the both of us. Especially to hear from the Burtches, who have spent years trusting God and persevering in faith. What a special sight it was to see two people who have gone through so much still following God's leading. It was also so good to get some time with the Paasch's. God has been doing some amazing stuff in their lives, if you want, you should check it out (http://gracetotheendsoftheearth.blogspot.com/ ). Anyways, it's was great to hear their honesty, their struggles and their stories of how God provides.

One of the most encouraging things for Ryan and I at this stage is to hear those "war" stories. Those stories that remind that this world is not for us, yet we are compelled until our last dying breath to share our hope in Jesus with others because He's worth it. We are soldiers here, and yes, God promises his provision and demonstrates it regularly, yet he also promises suffering. He promises it. That's some deep stuff for me to think through.

Exhaustion
Well, I think I tallied all the meetings we had with people this week, planned and spontanious, and I think it added up to 27. That's alot of people time for a self-proclaimed introvert. When we got back to San Diego I was SO exhausted! Thankfully we have a protective and wise campus leader. He's let us kinda take it easy this week. Which has been nice.

I feel pretty refreshed now and I am looking forward to celebrating Jesus with my husband tomorrow.